Pink Floyd founder dies aged 60

By CHARLOTTE GILL & NEIL SEARS, Daily Mail

Last updated at 10:42 12 July 2006

He was destined to become one of the greatest rock icons of all time. But, ravaged by drugs, Syd Barrett left behind the fame and fortune enjoyed by his fellow members of Pink Floyd to lead the life of a recluse.

His legend lived on among scores of devoted fans who credit the troubled genius with the band's success.

And even though he shrank from the limelight more than 30 years ago, the announcement of his death prompted an outpouring of tributes.

Barrett, who in recent years reverted to his birth name Roger, died from cancer on Friday at the age of 60.

"The band are naturally very upset and sad to learn of Syd Barrett's death," Pink Floyd said in a statement last night.

"Syd was the guiding light of the early band line-up and leaves a legacy which continues to inspire."

David Bowie said: "I can't tell you how sad I feel. Syd was a major inspiration for me.

He was so charismatic and such a startlingly original songwriter. His impact on my thinking was enormous. A major regret is that I never got to know him. A diamond indeed."

His funeral will be for family only and no members of Pink Floyd are expected to attend. It is understood that this was Barrett's wish.

The Pink Floyd frontman, who acquired his nickname when he was a teenager, founded the band in 1965 with his friend and former classmate Roger Waters.

He was the group's songwriting talent and came up with their name - thought to be inspired by two little-known bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.

Barrett wrote the hit singles Arnold Layne and See Emily Play, along with most of the songs on the first album in 1967, Piper At The Gates Of Dawn.

The album was a commercial and critical hit.

But the psychedelic drug haze of the 60s proved too much for Barrett and his heavy use of LSD led to erratic behaviour.

During his final days with the band, he was so high on drugs he could barely perform.

His bandmates stopped picking up Barrett for gigs and drafted in David Gilmour as guitarist.

In 1968, three years after they began and following just one album, he left the band and returned to Cambridge. After vanishing into obscurity, Barrett re-emerged in 1970 with two albums - 'The Madcap Laughs' and 'Barrett'.

But his psychological problems grew worse and Barrett withdrew into complete reclusion, eventually suffering a mental breakdown in the 1980s.

An album of previously unreleased material, 'Opel', was issued in 1988.

He never released any more material and rarely appeared in public. His withdrawal from public life led him to enjoy cult status among Pink Floyd fans, with many websites and books dedicated to the singer.

It is understood that Barrett financed his modest lifestyle through royalties from his solo records and Pink Floyd work, which his former bandmates made sure he continued to receive.

He shied away from interviews and spent his days weeding his plants and painting.

While Barrett disappeared, Pink Floyd went on to become one of the world's biggest rock bands with epic albums like Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall.

They are one of the most successful groups ever with more than 200 million album sales worldwide.

Waters wrote the song Shine On You Crazy Diamond about his friend on the 1975 Wish You Were Here album.

The lyrics were, "Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun. Shine on you crazy diamond. Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky."

At Live 8 last year, when Pink Floyd reunited without him, Waters sang Wish You Were Here, which was originally a tribute to the star.

Barrett passed away in his late mother's house - a run-down semi in a quiet Cambridge street - where he had lived for the past 30 years. He had suffered from diabetes for many years.

On his death certificate his occupation was given as 'retired musician'.

His sister Rosemary Breen, who also lived in Cambridge, helped to care for him in the years following his breakdown. She declined to comment.

His brother Alan Barrett said from his home in Linton near Cambridge: "Roger died on Friday. There will be a small family funeral soon. We just wish to be left alone."